Music Resumé
As a music educator and creativity coach, Gavin has 20 years experience working at some of the highest ranking music institutions in the UK.
He currently holds the post of Fellow in Creative and Professional Practice at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK, ranked 5th Conservatoire in the World (QS 2025). Previous roles include Lecturer in Music (Composition) at the University of Nottingham, as well as composition project lead for the Royal Opera House and other national organisations.
A longstanding champion for developing personal creativity he provides online composition coaching for those wishing to pursue their passion for new music.
Alongside his work in education, Gavin is active as a composer, conductor and pianist working in a variety of genres from opera to multimedia performance.
His work is performed worldwide, including at the Royal Opera House, Linbury Theatre, Teatro de la Fenice, Venice, HIP festival, North Carolina, USA, and at the opening night of the BBC Philharmonic studios in MediaCityUK.
Typical works include Hot To Trot Love Bot for actor- harpsichordist, Arrival at the Engine Room for cello and live multi-media, Bones of Spring for dancers, harpist and live multi- media, Revolve, for dancers and instruments, performed on location in Manchester City Centre, and Movement for Piano Trio: 0.2 to 150,000 premièred at the Royal Northern College of Music’s Earth Day symposium in 2024.
His compositions have been successful in a number of major national and international competitions including being shortlisted for the Henri Dutilleux Composition Competition, Joint Winner Sligo International Composition Competition, and being promoted by the UK’s national organisation for new music the Society for the Promotion of New Music (now named Sound and Music).
As a conductor known for the insight and accuracy of his interpretations, he has broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and has been conducted the BBC Philharmonic ensemble, Psappha, and Manchester Camerata as well as numerous project-specific ensembles.
A multi-talented pianist, his activity ranges from playing jazz piano for Queen Elizabeth II to performing new and established 20th and 21st Century pieces, especially those for chamber ensemble.
Formal studies include with Peter Eötvös at Centre Acanthes; Dominic Muldowney and John Lloyd Davies at the Royal Opera House; and Geoffrey Poole and John Casken (the latter supervising his PhD in Composition from the University of Manchester, 2007).
A respected artistic consultant Gavin has worked for Arts Council England including for the Cultural Recovery Fund.